The latest Skip Schumaker MLB and fantasy baseball news

The San Diego Padres signed free-agent 2B/OF Skip Schumaker (Reds) to a minor-league contract Monday, Feb. 8. The deal comes with an invitation to spring training.

Fantasy Tip: Schumaker is a versatile player who is way more useful to his real team than to fantasy owners. Unless he unexpectedly wins a starting job and plays every day, his usefulness will be limited to those in deeper NL-only formats.

Fantasy Tip: Schumaker ($2,200, 4.4% of cap) is batting .294 over the past week and is 6-for-17 (.353) with a double versus Garza in his career, making this a favorable matchup for him. FantasyScore owners in need of cap relief should keep him in mind for their lineups tonight.

Fantasy Tip: Farmer has struggled mightily in the rotation for Detroit this year, but Schumaker ($2,200, 4.4% of cap) has only 36 hits in 169 at-bats (.213 average) with no home runs this season. Schumaker's leadoff spot raises his daily value, but he's still hard to trust on FantasyScore.

Fantasy Tip: Bruce ($5,000, 10.0% of cap) should return to the lineup soon. Schumaker ($2,200, 4.4% of cap) has a hit in each of his last three games but is hitting .167 in August and should not be a starting option on FantasyScore.

Fantasy Tip: Make sure to avoid Byrd ($4,600, 9.2% of cap) in all fantasy formats Wednesday. He is hitting just .183 with four RBI through 64 plate appearances in August. Seasonal owners should be sizing up replacements. Schumaker ($2,200, 4.4% of cap) should be viewed as nothing more than a desperation source of cap relief for FantasyScore contests Wednesday.

Fantasy Tip: There is still potential a deal could be made before the deadline for players to be eligible for the post season Monday, Aug. 31, but outside Byrd ($4,600, 9.2% of cap), the other three are essentially fantasy afterthoughts outside cavernous mixed and NL-only leagues.

Fantasy Tip: Schumaker ($2,200, 4.4% of cap) has 32 hits in 147 at-bats (.218) this year with no home runs and nine RBI. Look to avoid him on FantasyScore, even while going up against a pitcher making his major league debut.

Fantasy Tip: De Jesus ($2,800, 5.6% of cap) is hitting .317 through 73 plate appearances against righties this season. It would be nicer to see him a little higher in the order, but De Jesus has some upside to offer FantasyScore owners. Schumaker ($2,200, 4.4% of cap) has an on-base percentage of just .305 for the season, and he has very little to offer FantasyScore owners despite hitting at the top of the lineup.